Geneva Grand Council rejects new authority for Airbnb oversight

The Geneva Grand Council has decided against creating a new administrative body to monitor short-term rentals, such as those on Airbnb. While a motion proposed by deputy Marc Saudan sought to establish a dedicated surveillance authority and a census of all short-term listings, the Council opted for a modified approach.

Lawmakers expressed concerns that a new entity would create unnecessary administrative complexity, described by some as a “gas factory.” Instead, the Council determined that improving digital surveillance tools would be sufficient to address the issue.

The decision comes amid a chronic housing shortage in the canton. Proponents of the original motion noted that over 2,600 tourist listings remove permanent housing from the rental market, fueling speculation and creating unfair competition for hoteliers.

To improve enforcement, the State Council plans to implement regulatory changes. These include extending mandatory reporting requirements to all hosts, whereas currently only hotels are so constrained. Additionally, every rental property must be linked to an official number that platform operators are required to display. Once a property reaches the legal limit of 90 nights, an automated signal will be sent to the Cantonal Office of Housing and the commercial police for potential intervention and sanctions.